Rapping mechanism for confection coating machines



Aug. 3, 1948. G. s. PERKINS RAPPING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION COATINGMACHINES I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1944 NVENTOR. George Per/firmi I llTTORNEYS G. s. PERKINS Aug. 3, 1948.

RAPPING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION QOATING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1944 -7SheetsShee1 2 I INVENIOR. Perlruu BY 7b0 a ATTORNEYS Q George 5.

Aug. 3, 1948. s. s. PERKINS RAPPING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION COATINGMACHINES 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 10, 1944 INVENTOR. 5 Per/rm GeorgeB I -/lTTORNEY- Aug. 3, 1948. G s PERKINS I 2,446,386

RAPPING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION COATING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1944 7Sheets-Sheet 4 VENTOR.

mos/(0% ATTORN EYS 1 George Per/ 126 BY Aug" 3, 1948. ca. s. PERKINS2,446,335

RAPPING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION COATING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1944 7Sheets-Sheet 5 -IN VEN TOR.

I George ,iPerkmb ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1948- G. s. PERKINS 2,446,385

RAPPING MECHANISM FOR CONFECTION COATING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed June 0, 19 4 INVENTQR. George 5. Per/(m6 mdcwa ATTORNEY5 1948- G.s. PERKINS 46,386

RAPPING MECHANISM-FOR CONFECTION COAT ING MACHINES Filed June 10, 1944 7Sheets-Sheetv '7 IN V EN TOR.

J George J? Per/ m5 BY Kr Qu/ ATTORNE Y5 Patented Aug. 3, 1948 2,446,386RAPPING MEQHANL Ton CONFE'CTION COATING cmNEs George Simpson PerkinIsland, N. Y., assignor 00., New York, N Y. 'ofi Joseph Greenb SamuelGreenberg,

4 Claims.

it relates particularly to the application of chocolate in the form of acoatin ucts.

Some of the principal objects of my invention are to provide a machinewhich applies a smooth and uniform thickness oi chocolate coating tocandy products, continuously and automatically; to control the flow of.the chocolate or other coating material; to eliminate air bubbles in thechocolate or other coating material; and mechanically to control thethickness of the coating. Other important objects of my invention willbe stated in the annexed description and drawings which disclose apreferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view, on the line l-| of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1. 4

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the mechanism for controlling the flow.of the coating material.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the partswhich control the flow of the covering material, in respective relativepositions which permit maximum flow.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, showing the control parts adjusted so as torestrict the flow of the coating material. v t Fig. 6 is a sectional vieFig, 3.

Fig. 'lis an enlarged detail elevation, showing he means for deliveringair at suitable velocity,

t in order to remove surplus chocolate or other coating material.

Fig. 8 is an end view on the line 6-8 of Fig 7.

Fig. 9 is a partial bottom plan view of the air elivery nozzle which. isshown in Figs. 7. and 8.

v Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view which shows the magazine pan fromwhich the coating matepieces of candy or other on various prodw on theline 6-5 f rial is delivered to the Products.

Fig. ll is a side elevation of Fig. 10. t

Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of the shaking or rapping mechanism whichshakes the coated pieces after surplus coating material has been removedby the blast of air, in order to smooth the coatings on the pieces ofcandy or the like. Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line l3+l3 of Fig.'12.

is. 14 is a sectional view on the line I l-l4 of Fig. 12.

s, Kew Gardens, Long to National Equipment copart'nersh ip composed a, Hr nan G enbfi t and Sidney Grecnlierg Application Jllhe 10, 1944, SerialNo. 539,681

Cl. 91-3) I 2 Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5, |5 of Fig. 19,illustrating the rapping or shaking mechanism. Fig. 16 is a frontelevation of the means-for controlling the inlet of air into the airdelivery mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a sectiona ofFiglfi. I Fig. 18 is a top plan view, partiallyin section, of the air inlet control. I t I Fig. 19 is a section on theline l '9 l 9 of Figlfi, The invention is described particularly withreference to a machines; the enrobertype, which coats pieces of candywith chocolate; I However, Whenever I specify chocolate as afcoatingmate. rial, the scope of my. invention includes all other coatingmaterials, and the coating may be 'ap plied to any products. 7

1 View on the line 1 As shown in Fig. 1, 'for examplathe chocolatecoating material is maintained in 'a magazine tank If). This magazinetank 10 is provided. wane water jacket Illa, means of an outer. wall Ihave not shown the details for suppl5 'ri'ng Water jacket Illa with hotwater, as such details are conventional. As an example, the choeo ate ismaintained at a temperature of in the tank Ill. The higher temperature0t F. is preferred. This chocolate coating material is liquid and itfiOWs easily, at the temperature at which it is maintained in the tanki0. This cheep;- late coating material may be suitably compoundedaccording toanywell-knownformula. I 7

Fig. 1 also shows a pump H, whose bottom inlet is connected in the usualmanner tothe tank Iii. This pump raises the molten'chocolate and itsoutlet end is connected to theh'QI -rzontal delivery pipe I2. The pump His operated byamotor l lm.-

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the stationary delivery pipe i2 is providedwith a longitudinal outlet port {2a in the bottom thereof. Said outletport I21; is a slot of uniform width, said slot being parallel to thelongitudinal axis of th delivery pipe i2.

The length of the slot "or the port [2a is equal to the length of thespout '29. The length cfthe slot or port I'la is less than the length ofpipe it. said spout 2}!) is fixed to a contr-oi casing lac which fitsturnably on the delivery pipe l2. Said control casing are is providedwith an outlet port 1217 which is in full registration with the porti242, when-the control casing is in the position shown in Fig. 4. In theposition shawl} in Fig. 5, the port Nb of the 'ccntrol casing lZ cregisters only partially with the fixed port 'lz' z. In such case, thedelivery of the coating material through the spout 29 is less than whenthe control casing |2c is in the position shown in Fig. 4. The controlcasing I20 can be turned on the pipe I2, so as to shut off the flow ofcoating material through the ports I20. and I21) and the spout 29. Theports He and I211 are of equal length and width.

In order to lessen the weight of the control casing I20, it is made withrecesses, in order to provide a plurality of arms I2d, which are shownin Fig. 3. Said casing I20 is also provided adjacent the handle 28, asshown in Fig. 5, with an additional arm IZe, which is identical with thearms I2d.

The rigid handle 28 is L-shaped, so that said handle is provided with arigid lug 28a, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeI2. Said lug 28a is integral with or it is fixed to a segment 2%, whichis shown in Figs. 3-5. This segment 28b is fixed to the arm I2e of thecontrol casing I20. Hence, the radially projecting handle 28 is turnedin unison with the control casing ,I2c, about the longitudinalhorizontal axis of the fixed pipe I2. The segment 28b is fixed to thearml2e, by means of screws 28c.

Respective stop collars 3| and 30 are turnably mounted on the pipe I2.The stop collar 3| is provided with a stop 3|a, and the stop collar 30is provided with a stop 30a. These collars 3| and 30can be releasablyfixed to the pipe I2, by clamping screws or the like, in order toprovide a predetermined angular spacing between the respective stops 30aand 3Ia. The lug 28a is located intermediate said stops 30a and 3Ia, inorder to regulate the angle of the turning movement of the controlcasing I20, relative to the pipe I2. A clamping screw 3lb extendsthrough a tapped bore of the rigid lug 28a. When the handle 28 has beenset to the desired adjusted position, the clamping screw 3Ib is turnedin order to clamp the lug 28a against the collar 3|, which is fixed tothe pipe I2. Hence, the control casing I20 and its spout 29 can be fixedin adjusted angular position relative to the pipe l2.

' Fig. 2 shows a pan I3, to which the molten chocolate is delivered bythe spout 29. This pan I3 is adjustably fixed to the stationary frame Fof the machine.

For this purpose, and as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the pan I3 isprovided with a pair of alined hubs I00. Each said hub I is tapped, inorder to provide a vertical recess whose wall is threaded. The threadedend of a respective vertical rod IOI' engages an internal thread of eachrespective hub I00. Each vertical rod IOI has a head I02 which isturnably mounted in a suitable bearing I03, which is fixed to the frameF. This bearing I03 is of the familiar type, which permits the rod IOIto turn around its vertical axis, without moving laterally or up ordown. Each rod I0| has an enlargement 36 of polygonal cross-section.Therefore, b turning the rods IOI by means of their enlargements 36, theheight of the pan I3 can be adjusted. This pan I3 is provided with theusual strainer 33.

The bottom wall of the pan I3 is provided with ports P which are alinedwith respective spouts S and Sa, whose respective widths can beadjusted. The spout S is provided with a fixed wall I04, which is fixedto the pan I3. The spout Sa is provided with a corresponding fixed walll04a. The spout S has an adjustable wall 35 which can be moved towardsand away from the respective fixed wall I04. The spout Sa has acorrelongitudinal axes of said sleeves I06.

spending adjustable wall 34. The respective movable walls 35 and 34 areangular, so that said movable walls can be moved to close the respectiveoutlet ports P which are provided in the bottom wall of the pan I3: Themovable'wall 35 is fixed to a slide 3511, which is suitably guided uponthe bottom horizontal wall of the pan I3. The adjustable wall 34 isfixed to a correspondin slide 34a.

A link I05 is provided externally to the pan I3, at each end of saidpan. Each link I05 is pivotally connected to an upstanding lug of theslide 3511.. Each link I05 has a threaded end which is located in thetapped bore of a sleeve I08. The sleeves I06 are turnably mounted insuitable bearings B which are provided at the ends of the pan I3. Thesleeves I06 can turn in said bearings B, without moving in the directionof the parallel Hence, the position of the movable wall 35 relative tothe fixed wall I04 can be adjusted by turning the sleeves I00. Thesleeves i060, correspond to the sleeves I06, and the bent links I050,correspond to the links I05, so that the width of the spout Se isregulated by turning the sleeves I06a.

Fig. 2 shows the usual endless enrober belt 2| which is made of wiremesh or other suitable perforate material. The top run of said enroberbelt 2| is horizontal. Said enrober belt 2| is supported upon and guidedby a series of rolls, some of which are shown in Fig. 2. The details ofthis enrober belt and of the mechanism for supporting and guiding thesame are conventional per se.

Conventional undercoating rolls 2m are located under the respectivespouts S and Sa. These undercoating rolls 2|a. abut parts of thehorizontal top run of the enrober belt 2|. Some of the coating materialwill be deposited upon these undercoating rolls 2|a. from the spouts Sand Sa, so that said rotating undercoating rolls 2Ia will deposit thechocolate upon the undersides of the candies or other articles, thusforming complete coatings upon the candies or other articles. Thecandies or other articles are arranged in lateral rows on the top run ofthe enrober belt 2|, so that each lateral row is first alined with thespout S and then with the spout Sa.

Each undercoating roll 2Ia extends laterally across the entire width ofthe top run of the enrober belt 2|. In order to illustrate the partsclearly, these undercoating rolls 2mare shown in Fig. 2, as beingsubstantially spaced longitudinally from each other. In the well-knownconstruction, which I can use, said successive undercoating rolls 2Iaare much closer to each other, and they may almost abut each other, withslight longitudinal clearance. In such case, the spouts S and So, arealso located longitudinally close to each other, each spout S and Sabeing vertically alined with the top of the respective undercoating roll2m. The undercoating rolls 2|a receive a supply of coating material fromthe spouts S and Sa. Any coating material which drips off saidundercoating rolls 2 la falls directly into tank I0, as the partsunderneath the undercoating rolls 2|a, clear said undercoating rolls. Itis conventional to make said undercoating rolls 2Ia. identical, and todrive them in the same direction at equal velocity, so'that the tops ofthe peripheries of said undercoating rolls 2|a move in the samedirection as the top run of the enrober belt 2|. In Fig. 2, the top runof the enrober belt 2| is moved from left to right, and eachundercoatingroll 21a is therefore revolved clockwise at identical speed.It is conventional to turn said undercoatin'g rolls 21a, so that theirtopportions which abut thetop run 'o'fthe enrober belt 2|, move atgreater linear velocity than the linear velocity of said top run. Iutilize this conventional feature of the well-known enrober. Since theperipheral speed of the 'undercoating rolls exceeds the speed of theperforate top run of the enrober belt, said undercoating rolls Zia forcethe coating material thereon, upwardly through the interstices of theperforate enrober belt 21, according to-standard practice.

On. the average, the molten chocolate is deposited' upon the articleswhile they are respectively underneath the spouts S and Sa, at a.temperature of 90 F.

' The machine'removes surplus coating material from the objects whilethey are located on the top run of the enrober belt 2|, before thecoating material has substantially-cooled or solidified, preferably intwo or more successive blowing operations. If the coating material isthe usual chocolate coating material, surplus coating material is blownoff while said coating material is at a temperature of 90 F.

The coating-removing jet or jets of air are delivered through a nozzle2!], which has an extension a. The extension 20a delivers one or morejets of air at a temperature of about 85 F. Therefore, the air exertslittle or no cooling effect upon the molten chocolate. The temperatureof the air can be adjusted, so that it will exert no cooling efiect uponthe molten chocolate. While it is possible to adjust the machine so-asto deliver only one jet of air, it is one of the great ad'- vantages ofmy machine to. deliver at least two successive jets of air, whichpreferably operate successively in separate blowing operations. Thesurplus chocolate which is blown off the pieces of candy or the like bymeans of the jet or jets of air which are delivered to the extension20a, is blown through the perforate top and bottom runs of the enroberbelt 2 I back into the tank I 0. The outlet or outlets of the extension2011 are located as close as possible to the tops of the pieces of candyor the like, suflicient clearance being provided to prevent the piecesof candy or the like from contacting with the extension 20a.

The nozzle 20 is therefore vertically adjustable relative to the frameof the machine, so that the machine can coat pieces of differentheights. As shown in Fig. 7, the nozzle 20 is of flared shape. The pipeI9 is telescopic at its lower end portion, so that the lower section ofthe pipe l9 can be moved up and down relative to the fixed upper portionof said pipe l9. Y

Fig. 7 shows that the nozzle 20 is provided with integral webs I01,which are provided with integral hubs I08. These hubs I08 are tapped inorder to provide vertical bores which have threaded walls. Each hub I08is associated with a rod 109, which has a lower threaded end, which islocated in the tapped bore of the respective hub I 08. Each rod I09 isprovided with a suitable bearing in the frame F, so that each rod I 09can turn around its vertical axis, without moving laterally or up ordown. The upper end of one of the rods I09 is provided With a bevel gearI). This bevel gear H0 meshes with a bevel gear III on a shaft H2 whichis vturnably mounted in bearings H4 which are fixed to the frame F ofthe machine. The shaft H2 is turned by means of a hand wheel 21.

As shown for example in Fig. 1, the rods I09 are 6. provided withrespective sprockets which are cone nected'by. an endless horizontalchain 26', so. that the rods I09 are simultaneously and equally turned,and the hubs I08 are "equally and simula ta'neously moved up and down.

Astshow'n for example in Fig. 8, extension-20a is provided with apartition vane 24. This vane 24 can be adjusted so that equal streams ofair are delivered from the mouth of the extension 20a, or said streamscan have any desired: relative proportion of volume and/or velocityor-either one of said streams may be shut off., This vane 24 is fixed atits lower end to pivots 2411 which are turnably mounted in suitablebearings which are provided in the walls of the extension 20a.

The shaft I15 and the respective undercoating rolls 2111. are positivelydriven.

The undercoating roll 21a which is at the left of Fig. 2, is fixed to ashaft which is: gearedor otherwise connected to shaft. H5. This detailvis conventional and it is not shown. The respective identicalundercoating rolls 2I,=a are therefore positively driven at. identicalvelocity.

The lower end of extension 20a is provided: with a baifle. 3! whichextends completely across the mouth of extension 20a, in a lateraldirection which is perpendicular to the line of movement of the top runof the enrober belt 2|. Hence baifle 31 divides the mouth of extension20ainto two wholly separate ports 25. The pivots 24a turn around an axiswhich is substantially coincident with the top wall of battle 31-, whichhas. the tapered shape shown in Fig. 8 Hence the bottom edge of vane 24always abuts or always substan"- tially abuts the top walls of bafile31. The vane 34 extends laterally completely across the extension 20aand the respective part of nozzle 20, thusdividing the respective partof nozzle 20' and the extension 200;, into two wholly separate chambers.A handle 23 is fixed to one of the pivots 24, externally to extension20a. Handle 23 has a slotted extension 2 3a, whose slot is concentricwith the axis around which handle 23 is turned. The shank of a clampingscrew 23b extends through said slot. Said shankv is located in a tappedbore of the respective adjacent hub 108. When clamping screw 23b istightened, it clamps handle 23 and vane 24, in the desired adjustedposition. When vane 24 and handle 23 are vertical, equal streams of airissue at equal velocity from the re;- spective longitudinally spacedports 25.

The width of baffle 31 can be selected so that if two. jets of air areused, said jets strike the piece of candy successively, so that thefirst jet does not strike the piece of candy when the second jet strikesthe piece of candy. If desired, the second jet of air can strike thepiece of candy while the first jet of air is impinging upon the samepiece of candy. Since the pieces of candy are arranged in lateralstraight line rows, this depends upon the size of the candies, and thelongitudinal spacing between successive lateral rows. These rows arepreferably equally longitudinally spaced. The candies of each saidlateral row are simultaneously coated and said candies of each lateralrow are also simultaneously subjected to the respective jets of air. Thecandies may be of different widths and heights. The machine is thereforeadjusted to the particular height and width of the pieces which arebeing processed in the respective run of the machine. I prefer first toblow on the major part 'or nearly all of the surplus coating by thefirst jet of air, before the second jet beoom'es operative, and. to havethe second jet act as precision means, to blow off the relativelysmallremaining surplus portion of the surplus coating material. Hence, Iprefer that each lateral row of candies should be moved beyond theeffective zone of the first jet, before the candies enter the effectivezone of the second jet, so that there is a short interval between thesuccessive blowing operations on each candy. Howeventhe invention is notlimited to a time interval between the two blowing operations on eachpiece, because the second jet can operate on its respective part of thepiece of candy, while a part of said piece is still in the effectivezone of the first jet.

-When the vane 24 is in the broken-line position shown in Fig. 8, one ofthe ports 25 is wholly closed. Hence, the vane 24 can be located so ascompletely to close either one of the ports 25, as well as to regulatethe respective volumes and velocities of the respective jets of air.

After surplus coating material has been blown off thepieces of candy orthe like, the remaining coating material which adheres to the pieces ofcandy or the like, has an irregular or wavy shape.

This wavy or irregular shape is eliminated, in order to provide smoothsurface coatings, by immediately shaking the coated pieces before thecoating has set, and preferably before the coating has substantiallycooled.

The longitudinal edge portions of the top run of the enrober belt 2i aresupported on respective rigid and longitudinal rails I4. These rails areangular in cross-section, so that they have top flanges I la. Therespective parts of the longitudinal edge portions of the top run of theenrober-belt 2| rest upon the flanges Ma. Each'rail I4 is fixed to anarm H4, which is rockably supported upon the shaft H 5, which can beturned freely relative to each respective arm H4. The longitudinalrails- I4 have cross rails H6 fixed thereto; Spaced longitudinalsupporting members 39 are releasably fixed to the cross rails I I6.Between its longitudinal edges, the top run of the enrober belt 2| issupported upon the laterally spaced longitudinal members 39, above thecross rails H6. The members 39 may be thin wires which are rigid. Thesemembers 39 can be vertically adjusted relative to cross rails H6.

The lateral shaft 'I I1 is turnably mounted in suitable bearings whichare fixed to the frame F of the machine. Ratchets or ratchet wheels Iare fixed to the lateral shaft I I1.

The shaft H1 is continuously rotated in the same direction, togetherwith the ratchets or ratchet wheels I6, by means of a drive chain I I8,which is continuously driven in any suitable manner.

As shown in Fig. 12, the shafts H5 and II! are connected by means ofsprockets and an endless chain H6, but the shaft H5 is rotated by shaftH'l without oscillating the rapping frame which consists of the rails I4and H6.

A vertical extension I! is located adjacent each longitudinal rail I4.Each vertical extension I! has an integral horizontal flange I'Ia. Eachflange I'Ia is located in and fiXed to a respective rail I4. Eachvertical extension I1 is provided with a socket in which a pawl 46 isvertically adjustably fixed by means of a lock nut 40a. When the shaftH1 is rotated, the respective ratchet wheels I5 and the respective pawls40 rapidly oscillate the rapping frame about the axis of the shaft H5.

The rails I I and the longitudinal "wires or members 39 always contactwith the top run of the enroberbelt 2I, because this top run has enoughsag to maintain this continuous contact. Hence, the part of the top runof the flexible enrober belt 2I which is above the rapping frame, iscontinuously and rapidly moved up and down, thus vigorously shaking thecoated pieces, which also move in unison with said top run, and withoutseparating the coated pieces from said top run. The amplitude ofoscillation of the rapping frame is very small, and the coated piecesadhere somewhat to the enrober belt, due to the coating material.

The amplitude of this shaking or rapping movement is controlled by theadjustment of the cams I6 which contact with the undersides of the railsI4. These cams I6 can be rotated, in order to adjust them, by means of ashaft I26. The cams I6 are held stationary, save when shaft I20 isturned to adjust the effective heights of said cams. The cams I6 can beadjusted so that the pawls 40 are held wholly out of contact with theteeth of the ratchet wheels 15, or said pawls 40 are held in any desiredvertical relation to said teeth, in order to control the amplitude ofthe vibration of the rapping frame and of the respective part of the toprun of the enrober belt 2I. This is much superior to the old method ofadjusting the pawls d0 individually, relative to the oscillating rappingframe.

In addition to simultaneously and equally adjusting both cams I6 byturning shaft I20, one of said cams I6 can be turned on shaft I20, foran additional adjustment.

As shown in Fig. 19, one of the cams I6 is releasably fixed to a sleeveI6a by means of a clamping screw I61). The caml6 which is thus fixed tosleeve I6a is the cam I6 which isshown at the top of Fig. 12. This camI6 has a hub, as shown in Fig. 19, in which the clamping screw I6b islocated. Said sleeve I6a extends through the respective frame member.

A collar I23a is caused to turn in unison with sleeve I6a, as by meansof a key or the like. Collar I23a has a radial arm I23c. A dial I22 isclamped to said radial arm I230 by means of a clamping washer I23 and aclamping screw I231). Said dial I22 has a hub M which is keyed to shaftI20, so that dial I22 and shaft I20 are turned in unison.

The dial I22 is provided with a scale I22a. The dial I22 can be clampedto the stud 361) which is fixed to the adjacent frame member by aclamping washer 3811) and a clamping screw 38. A handle 38a. is locatedslidably in the head of screw 38, in order to turn saidscrew 38.

It is the object of the invention to have both cams I6 locatedidentically on the shaft I20, so that said cams I6 have their radii ofmaximmn length simultaneously vertical. These ca-ms I6 thus operatesimultaneously and equally on the respective rails I4, so that saidrails I4 are simultaneously and equally rocked up and down.

In order to adjust the cam I6 which is shown in Fig. 19, relative toshaft I20, so that both cams i6 are thus located identically on shaftI20, the clamping screw l23b is loosened, without loosening the clampingwasher 38w. The arm I230 is then turned, thus turning sleeve I6a onshaft I20 in unison with the respective cam I6,until said cami6 is inidentical relation with the other cam I6.

After both cams I6 are thus in identical relation on shaft 120, theclamping Washer I23 is tightened by screw I23b, thus fixing dial I22 tosleeve I23a. The scale I22a is used in connection with a suitable fixedindex, such as a pointer on '19 the; clamp. 8112, t designate the-.dircction and the an le of adjustment.

Af dial tzzghasth is been,-clampedto.slecve 42 3a,, itmayebeecessarytorotate the shaft 120 unison with both earns, 16, in order Ito,regulate the/amplitude of "the rapping movement. v

Thisis done by looseningscrewtiit and clamping;washer 3820. The sleeveld-can now be turned 'by its handle Ma, in unison with shaft I20, thussimultaneously and equally adjustin both cams l6, while said cams Hi arefixed in identical relation to shaft I20.

After the coatings have been made smooth by the rapping operation, thecoated articles are passedoff the top run of theenrober chain z l,.to.the -usual coo-ling tunnel, which is-not shown.

-F.-'ig;., 1 and Fig. 2 show the main drive, shaft 4-335, whosebevelgear 132 meshes witha, bevel ,g-ear I31 which is fixed to..the shaft138,,whichis thus positively driven. Gear [3.41s fixed. tothe gear I35which is rotatable on a pin which is fixed to one of the rolls on whichthe enrober chain is mounted, so that shaft l36a drives the en-roberchain 2|.

The drive chain H8 which is shown in Fig. 12 is connected in anysuitable manner to a roll which meshes with and is actuated by theenrober chain 2!.

Fig. 1 shows the motor l8 for actuating the blower which forces airthrough the pipe 19 into the nozzle 20.

As shown in Fig. 18, the pipe I!) is provided with an inlet port 22a.The frusto-conical valve 22 is adjustable, in order to regulate theamount of air which is admitted into the pipe l9. This valve 22 alwaysproduces a uniform distribution of the air which enters the pipe l9. Thefrustoconical valve 22 is fixed to a slide 421) which is mountedslidably on :rails 42a which are fixed t the pipe l9. Hence, the valve22 and the slide 422) are moved in unison. Slide 321) has a tapped hub420 whose internal thread engages with the external thread of a shaft42d which has a hand wheel 42c. The shaft #201 is turnably mounted inthe frame F, and its bearing prevents said shaft 42d from movinglongitudinally.

As previously stated, the baffle 31 extends transversely across theentire mouth of extension 20a, so that if the vane 24 is vertical, twoequal and longitudinal spaced blasts of air impinge successively uponeach coated piece. I have found that in order to regulate the removal ofsurplus coating, it is highly advantageous to use two or more separateblasts of air, which are spaced longitudinally along the path ofmovement of the candies, so that said blasts act suc cessively. Byregulating said respective blasts, I produce more sensitive and accurateremoval of surplus coating.

Ordinarily, the first or anterior blast, which is closest to the nozzleSo, should be the most powerful, The regulation of the blasts makes itpossible to regulate the removal of surplus coating material fromcandies of different sizes, such as large chocolate drops and smallchocolate drops. At one time, the machin may be operating on largecandies, and at another time on small candies. The thickness of thecoating on the undersides of the candies is regulated by the thicknessof the wire enrober belt. Hence, the blasts of air remove surpluscoating material, only from the tops and sides of the candies.

The spouts S and Sa can be located longitudinally very close to eachother, in the conven- .2 main drive shaft'l'33. Gear I34 meshes with aThe undercoating rolls 2hr. force the coating materialupwardly throughthe perforations or intersticesofthe perforate enrober belt.

- Lolaim:

-1 a candy coating machine of the class .whichhas, afix-ed frame .and. arappingframe whichis. mountedvtdoscillate up=and-down relativeto saidfixed frame around a selected horizontal. axis, and driven toothed,means. for. 0s.-

cillating said rapping frame, said rapping, frame having, pawl means.which are located to intermesh with said toothed meansso that theactuation- Of said .to'othdi means oscillates said. rap.- pinifllamajthe improvement which consists of adjusting mechanism which 'isadjustably fixed to said fixed frame, said adjusting mechanism beingconstructed and operative to regulate the extent of intermeshing of saidpawl means with said toothed means in order to adjust the amplitude ofoscillation of said rapping frame, said adjusting mechanism being fixedto said fixed frame during said oscillation of said rapping frame.

2. In a candy coating machine of the class which has a fixed frame and arapping frame which is mounted to oscillate up-and-down relative to saidfixed frame around a. selected horizontal axis, and driven toothed meansfor oscillating said rapping frame, said rapping frame having pawl meanswhich are located to intermesh with said toothed means so that theactuation of said toothed means oscillates said rapping frame, theimprovement which consists in providing a horizontal shaft which isadjustably and turnably mounted in said fixed frame below said rappingframe, said shaft having a pair of cams connected thereto, said camsbeing located to abut said rapping frame at the bottom of the downwardmovement of said rapping frame, one of said cams being fixed to a sleevewhich is turnable on said shaft to bring said cams into identicalrespective relation relative to said rapping frame, a collar turnable inunison with said shaft, and releasable clamping means adapted to clampsaid collar to said sleeve.

3. In a candy coating machine of the class which has a fixed frame and arapping frame which is mounted to oscillate up-and-down relative to saidfixed frame around a selected horizontal axis, and driven toothed meansfor oscillating said rapping frame, said rapping frame having pawl meanswhich are located to intermesh with said toothed means so that theactuation of said toothed means oscillates said rapping frame, theimprovement which consists in providing a horizontal shaft which isadjustably and turnably mounted in said fixed frame below said rappingframe, said shaft having a pair of cams connected thereto, said camsbeing located to abut said rapping frame at the bottom of the downwardmovement of said rapping frame, one of said cams being fixed to a sleevewhich is turnable on said shaft to bring said cams into identicalrespective relation relative to said rapping frame, a collar turnable inunison with said shaft, and releasable clamping means adapted to clampsaid collar to said sleeve and additional clamping means to clamp saidcollar to said fixed frame.

ping frame, the improvement which consists in.

providing a horizontal shaft which is adjustably and turnably mounted insaid fixed frame below said rapping frame, said shafthaving a pair ofcalm connected thereto, said cams being located to abut said rappingframe at the bottom of the downward movement of said rapping frame, oneof said cams being fixed to a sleeve which is turnable on said shaft tobring said cams into identical respective relation relative to saidrapping frame, a, collar turnable in unison with said 12 shaft, andreleasable clamping means adapted to clamp said collar to said sleeveand additional clamping means to clamp said collar to said fixed frame,said releasable clamping means operating on a dial extension of saidsleeve, said dial extension having a scale, said additional clampingmeans also operating on said dial extension.

GEORGE SIMPSON PERKINS.-

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date Re. 10,979 Juwell' Jan. 8,1889 1,043,513 Dell Nov. 5, 1912 1,611,576 Bausman Dec. 21, 19261,759,355 Kampman May 20, 1930 20 2,033,781 Newman Mar. 10, 1936

